Boyz 4 Now
Written by Lizzie and Wendy Molyneux, the episode features guest appearances from actors Max Greenfield and Jack McBrayer and comedian Tig Notaro.
Its main plot sees Louise Belcher (Kristen Schaal) becoming aghast to find herself developing a crush on a member of the boy band Boyz 4 Now (Greenfield), after she reluctantly attends one of their concerts with her sister Tina (Dan Mintz).
In a subplot, Gene Belcher (Eugene Mirman) qualifies for a regional competition in tablescaping, an activity involving the setting of dining tables based on a selected theme.
The episode originally aired on April 28, 2013 on Fox, drawing an audience of 3.50 million viewers, and was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who commended its main plot for exploring the more vulnerable, feminine side of Louise's character and her sisterly relationship with Tina.
Louise rejoices after a pet emergency leaves Gayle unable to bring the sisters to the concert, but reluctantly agrees to help find another ride after seeing Tina's disappointment.
They hitch a ride with Zeke (Bobby Tisdale) and his older cousin Leslie (Jack McBrayer), who are going to the concert to sell bootleg T-shirts and hot dogs.
At the tablescaping competition, Gene's improvised menstruation-themed display is deemed offensive by the judges and causes him to end up in fourth place; nonetheless, the Belchers are satisfied to see Oscar's father crying over losing.
[1] Upon hearing the writers' pitch of the episode, series creator Loren Bouchard found its plot to be "such an immediately appealing story" and "a great way to have Louise peek over the other side of adolescence and look into the abyss.
[2] Bouchard explained that the choice of using a non-specific type of parody was not brought about by fears that the episode would become dated, but rather because the staff all had different boy bands that "made them chuckle.
"[2] The staff had differing opinions on what Boyz 4 Now's clothes and hair would look like, choices which Bouchard ultimately left to "some of the many talented women who work on the show who had much stronger feelings about boy bands.
